Indented female blow-molded connector and male connector and method

ABSTRACT

A device and method for forming an indented female connector where the dimension of the indented female connector provides for removing a male molding component without damaging a set of internal ribs formed inside the female connector. A structure comprising an indented female blow-molded connector having a first wall having a top surface and a thickness, with the first wall surrounding an opening. At least one inner wall extends substantially perpendicular to the first wall and borders the opening. At least one rib is formed in the inner wall. A bottom wall is joined to the inner wall and the distance from the rib to the top surface is greater than the thickness of the first wall. The structure further comprising a male connector having a contact edge that, when positioned inside the indented female blow-molded connector, engage the at least one rib, such that the male connector and indented female blow-molded connector are releaseably joinable with one another. Structures can be made that use the indented female blow molded connectors and male connectors.

BENEFIT CLAIM OF AN EARLIER FILED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/996,950 filed on Nov. 24, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,289which claims priority to a continuation-in-part patent application ofpatent application Ser. No. 10/314,672, filed Dec. 9, 2002 now abandonedto Lipniarski for an Indented Female Blow-Molded Connector.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present indented female blow-molded connector and male connectorrelate generally to the field of molded plastic parts, and specificallyrelate to blow-molding a thermoplastic material into the shape of anindented female connector and the shape of a male connector such thatthe male connector can be joined to the indented female blow-moldedconnector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blow molding of plastics to form hollow shapes such as bottles,containers and the like is well known to those having ordinary skill inthe art. Some shapes, however, are difficult to mold into a hollowcontainer with a blow molding process. An example of a shape that isdifficult to mold is an indented female connector having a set ofinternal ribs for engaging with a male connector. Accordingly, there isa need for an improved device for molding an indented female connectoras part of a hollow object.

Additionally, there is a need for hollow molded objects that can beassembled into sturdy durable structures, such as chairs, tables,stools, walls, and the like, without the need for extra components.There is a need for these structures to be sturdy, so that they canwithstand loads imposed on them without breaking or collapsing. There isalso a need for the hollow molded objects to be formed such that theycan be repeatedly manually joined and released from one another withoutthe use of tools, wrenches, additional components, hammers, screwdrivers, and/or power equipment.

SUMMARY

A male mold component is provided and is inserted into a first hollowmolded object mold, to thus forming the indented female blow-moldedconnector in the first hollow molded object. The male mold component canbe removed from the first hollow molded object without damaging ribsformed in the indented female blow-molded connector.

After removal of the male mold component, the first hollow molded objecthas the indented female blow-molded connector formed in a side thereof.There is also a second hollow molded object that has a male side with amale connector extending from the male side. A structure is made fromthe first hollow molded object and the second hollow molded object whenthe male connector is moved into and joined to the indented femaleblow-molded connector.

The indented female blow-molded connector (hereinafter female blowmolded connector) has an upper or first wall having a top surface and athickness, the first wall surrounds an opening. There is at least oneinner wall that extends substantially perpendicular to the first walland that borders the opening. There is also at least one rib formed inthe inner wall, and a bottom wall is joined to the inner wall. Thebottom wall can be curved. The rib, in an embodiment, can be formed froma pair of rib walls that converge at an approximately forty-five degreeangle relative to the inner wall. The distance from the rib to the topsurface is greater than the thickness of the first wall.

When the male connector is moved into and positioned internal to theindented female connector, the male connector becomes robustly joined tothe indented female connector. This is possible, because the maleconnector has a contact edge that makes an interference type fit withthe at least one rib of the indented female connector. The indentedfemale connector and male connector can be repeatedly manually joinedand separated.

The indented female connector and male connector can be used to createof plurality of sturdy, stable structures. The structures can bemanually assembled and disassembled without the need for tools, otherparts and components, or equipment. The structures that can be formedinclude stools, tables, chairs, walls, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The indented female blow-molded connector and male connector areillustrated in the figures. Like reference characters designate the sameor similar parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevational view of the male mold componentpositioned inside a portion of the object to be molded.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the indented femaleblow-molded connector.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevational view showing the mold componentin broken lines as it is being removed from the indented femaleblow-molded connector.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first hollow molded object having anindented female blow-molded connector.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the first hollow molded object showing theindented female blow-molded connector.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along cut line A-A of the first hollowmolded object showing the indented female blow-molded connector.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second hollow molded object fromwhich extends a male connector.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the second hollow molded objectshowing the male connector.

FIG. 9 is left elevational view of the second hollow molded objectshowing the male connector.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the second hollow molded object showingthe male connector taken along cut line B-B.

FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional view of the male connector andindented female blow-molded connector joined together.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the male connector and indented femaleblow-molded connector joined together.

FIGS. 13-15 are perspective sectional views showing, in sequence, theintroduction of the male connector into the indented female blow-moldedconnector.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a structure held together with maleconnectors and indented female blow-molded connectors.

FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the structure held together withmale connectors and indented female blow-molded connectors.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing a horizontalsupport member separated from a vertical support member.

FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the horizontal support memberseparated from the vertical support members.

FIG. 20 is a bottom perspective view of the horizontal support memberseparated a greater distance from the vertical support members than isshown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a bottom perspective view of the horizontal support memberseparated from the vertical support members an even greater distancethan shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a left perspective view of the horizontal support memberseparated from the vertical support members.

FIG. 23 is a partly exploded view showing the horizontal support memberand a first beam separated from the vertical support members.

FIG. 24 is an exploded view showing the horizontal support member,vertical support members, and the first and second beams.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the first beamreceived in one of the vertical support members.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the first beampartly received in one of the vertical support members.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the first beamaligned with a recess formed in one of the vertical support members.

FIG. 28 is a front elevation of a four legged stool.

FIG. 29 is a bottom plan view of the seat of the stool.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a leg of the stool.

FIG. 31 is a bottom plan view of a three-legged stool.

FIG. 32 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-3 and initially to FIG. 1, a portion of afirst hollow molded object 10 is shown in a sectional side view. Thefirst hollow molded object 10 comprises an indented female blow-moldedconnector 16, hereinafter indented female connector 16, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4-6. The first hollow object 10 is formed from thermoplasticmaterials by blow molding techniques known to those of ordinary skill inthe art.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 a male mold component 13 is inserted into themold to form the indented female connector 16. Once the female connector16 has been molded, the male mold component 13 is removed from the moldas described hereinafter. It is noted that after the male mold component13 has been removed, a recess or opening 18 is defined in the firsthollow molded object 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-6.

Referring to FIG. 2, the indented female connector 16 is surrounded by asurface 19. The surface 19 is formed on an upper or first wall 20 thathas a thickness indicated at 21. The surface 19 is disposedsubstantially perpendicular to a set of inside walls 25 extending inwardtoward a rib 28 that is integrally formed in the inside walls 25 duringthe molding process. The rib 28 is comprises a pair of converging ribwalls 29. Depending on the shape of the opening, the rib 28 may beformed on some or all of the inside walls 25. For a circular opening asillustrated at FIG. 32, the rib 28 may be formed in an annularconfiguration. For a rectangular opening the rib 28 may extend onlyalong the opposed major lengths of the rectangle, as shown in FIG. 5.

The rib 28 may extend from the inner wall inward at an angle ofapproximately forty-five degrees. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, there is apair of ribs 28 facing each other and extending inward at approximatelya forty-five degree angle from an axis 31 parallel to the inside wall25. With reference to the orientation of FIG. 2, the side walls 25 maycontinue downward and join by means of a section 34 disposed at theportion of the female indented connector 16 positioned farthest from thesurface 19. Although the section 34 is curved in the drawings, thesection 34 may be formed in other shapes as well. For example, thesection 34 may comprise a rectangular shape in other embodiments.

Between the top of surface 19 and the rib 28 is a flex section 36 havinga dimension 37, as shown in FIG. 2. The distance along the rib is alocking surface 40, and the portion below the rib 28 is a receivingsurface 43. The opening between opposed ribs 28 has a dimension 44 thatwill be described presently.

Turning to FIG. 3, after the blow molding process is completed, the malemold component 13 is removed from the indented female connector 16 bypulling it in a direction substantially perpendicular to top surface 19.The opening or recess 18 in the first hollow molded object 10 isnarrowest at the position between the ribs 28, and this is indicated inFIG. 2 as dimension 44. When the male mold component 13 is removed fromthe formed indented female connector 16 as shown in FIG. 3, the ribs 28are forced on, and as a result have to bend or flex away from each otherin order to accommodate the large diameter 60 of the lower portion 63 ofthe male mold component 13.

Returning to FIG. 2, it has been discovered that in order to form theribs 28 and to successfully remove the male mold component 13 withoutdamaging the ribs 28, a certain relationship between thickness 21 of thefirst wall 20 and the dimension 37 applies. If dimension 37 is greaterthan thickness 21, then the male mold component 13 can be removedwithout damaging the ribs 28. If dimension 37 is less than or equal tothe thickness 21, the ribs 28 are typically destroyed when the male moldcomponent 13 is removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first hollow object 10 having aindented female connector 16 formed therein. FIG. 5 is a top plan viewof the indented female connector 16 that shows the ribs 28. And, FIG. 6is a sectional view taken along cut line A-A of FIG. 5 that shows theindented female connector 16 formed in the first hollow object 10.

A second hollow molded object 11 is provided as shown in FIGS. 7-10. Thesecond hollow molded object 11 comprises a male side 42 and a maleconnector 30 that extends from the male side 42. It is noted that thesecond hollow object 11 is formed from thermoplastic materials by blowmolding in a manner well known to those having ordinary skill in theart.

As shown in FIGS. 7-10, the male connector 30 comprises a first andsecond opposed walls 31 a and 31 b, respectively, that extendsubstantially perpendicular to the male side 42. Extending from the maleside 42 between the first and second oppose walls, 31 a, 31 b,respectively, are first and second angled walls, 32 a, 32 b,respectively. The first angled wall 32 a is joined with the first andsecond walls, 31 a, 31 b, respectively. And, the second angled wall 32 bis joined with the first and second walls, 31 a, 31 b, respectively. Afirst contact wall 33 a extends from the first angled wall 32 a, and asecond contact wall 33 b extends from the second angled wall 32 b.

A curved wall 35 is joined with and extends between the first and secondcontact walls 33 a, 33 b, respectively. The curved wall 35 and firstcontact wall 33 a meet at a first edge 38 a, and the curved wall 35 andthe second contact wall 33 b meet at a second edge 38 b. The curved wall35 is also joined with the first and second angled walls, 32 a, 32 b,respectively. The male connector 30 has a width designated W in FIG. 10.It is noted that in other embodiments the angled walls may be formedsuch that they are perpendicular to the male side 42 and perpendicularto the first and second contact walls 33 a, 33 b, respectively.

The above-described indented female connector 16 and the male connector30 can be manually releasably joined to one another. FIGS. 13-15 show,in sequence, the male connector 30 as it is introduced into the indentedfemale connector 16. The curved wall 35 contacts the ribs 28 that are adistance, designated dimension 44 in FIG. 2 apart from one another.Width, designated W of the curved wall 35 is greater than the distancebetween the ribs 28. As the curved wall 35 of the male connector 30 isintroduced it contacts and forces on the ribs 28. In response, the ribs28 expand and the curved wall 25 of the male connector 30 moves past theribs 28. Afterward, the curved wall 35 is adjacent the section 34 of theindented female connector 16 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. It is notedthat the above-described expansion is similar to the expansion of theribs 28 shown in FIG. 3, showing the removal of the male mold component13 from the indented female connector 16.

The male connector 30 is thus joined to the indented female connector16. In particular, the first and second contact edges 38 a, 38 b,respectively, of the male connector 30 contact the ribs 28, thus joiningor interlocking the male connector 30 to the indented female connector16 with an interference-type fit. In this manner, the male connector 30and indented female connector 16 are robustly joined to one another,such that there is a minimal amount of play or space for movementbetween them when they are so joined together. This advantageouslyallows for structures 46 that are sturdy and stable to be built from aplurality of first and second hollow molded objects, 10, 11,respectively, that have the above-described indented female connectors16 and male connectors 30. As will be described presently, there arevirtually a limitless number of useful structures 46 may be made fromthe indented female connector 16 and male connector 30.

Also, the male connector 30 and indented female connector 16 can bemanually taken apart or disassembled without the use of tools,equipment, or other parts, pieces, or components. To separate ordisassemble, manual force is applied to the male connector 30 andindented female connector 16 in opposite directions. During theseparation process, the ribs 28 expand to allow the male component 30 topass through the ribs 28, and the ribs 28 are not destroyed during theremoval process. Advantageously, the male connector 30 and indentedfemale connector 16 can be repeatedly joined and subsequently separated,such that structures 46 that employ the indented female connector 16 andmale connector 30 can repeatedly assembled and disassembled.

Another advantage of the releasably joinable indented female connector16 and male connector 30 is that one person can manually assemble anddisassemble structures 46 without the need for other parts andcomponents, without the need for any tools, and without the need for anyseparate fasteners. Advantageously, there is no possibility of smallparts and pieces being lost or misplaced when the present male connector30 and indented female connector 16 are used to form structures 46. Itis noted that the male connector 30 and indented female connector 16 aredurable and study. Thus, if a person uses a mallet or hammer made of,for example, rubber, plastic, wood, metal, and combinations thereof topound the male connector 30 and indented female connector 16 togetherand/or apart, then the likelihood of the male connector 30 or indentedfemale connector being damaged is low.

FIGS. 17-27 show one of the embodiments of the releasably joinableindented female connector 16 and male connector 30 used to form astructure 46. In particular, shown in FIGS. 17-18 is a structure 46 thatcan be used as a counter, a table, a bar, a storage surface, a bookshelf, or a support for virtually any object(s). Although the structure46 shown in these drawings could be used for any of a plurality ofpurposes, structure 46 is, for the sake of convenience, hereinafterreferred to as a table 70. The table 70 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 isconstructed from components 68 comprising a horizontal support member72, a plurality of vertical support members 74, a first beam 76 a, and asecond beam 76 b.

The horizontal support member 72 has a support side 80 and a connectorreceiving side 82. Formed in the connector receiving side 82 of thehorizontal support member 72 are a plurality of spaced apart indentedfemale connectors 16, as shown in FIGS. 18-21. These indented femaleconnectors 16 are fully described above.

The vertical support members 74 each have a male connector side 84 and abase side 86. Spaced apart male connectors 30 extend from the maleconnector side 84 as shown in FIGS. 18-25. The male connectors 30 arefully described above.

The first and second beams, 76 a, 76 b, respectively, are shown in FIGS.16-27, and are for providing additional stability to the table 70. Eachof the first and second beams 76 a, 76 b, respectively, has a pair ofopposed beam sides 78. Formed in the pair of opposed beam sides 78 are aplurality of spaced apart grooves 79. The grooves 79 are aligned withone another on opposite sides 78 of the first beam 76 a and on oppositesides of the second beam 76 b, as shown in FIG. 25. The verticalsupports 74 have openings 92 formed in them and have guides 94 thatextend into the openings 92, as shown in FIGS. 25-27.

The table 70 can be constructed by one person in a matter of minutesfrom the above-described components without the use of tools, hammers,equipment, and/or other parts or pieces. The first step is to align thefirst and second beams 76 a, 76 b, respectively, with the openings 92defined in the vertical supports 74. Then, the first beam 76 a is movedinto the openings 92, such that the guides 94 are received in thegrooves 70. The first beam 76 a and vertical support 74 are heldtogether by a friction fit. The same process is used to join the secondbeam 76 b to the vertical supports 74.

Then, the horizontal support 72 is aligned with the vertical supports74, such that the indented female connectors 16 formed in the connectorreceiving side 82 side of the horizontal support 72 are aligned with themale connectors 30 extending from the male connector side 84 of thevertical supports 74. Then, pressure or force is applied to the supportside 80 of the horizontal support 72, and the male connectors 30 moveinto the indented female connectors 16. The male connectors 30 andindented female connectors 16 are joined to one another and a sturdytable 70 is thus formed. Some of the advantages of the table 70 are thatno tools were required to assemble the table 70, the completed table 70is rigid and strong, and that the table 70 can be repeatedlydisassembled and reassembled. Disassembly of the table 70 is desirableif the table 70 needs to be stored.

In another embodiment, the structure 46 comprises a stool 120 that isheld together with male connectors 30 and indented female connectors 16,as shown in FIGS. 28-30. The stool 120 comprises a seat 121 having aload side 122 and a leg side 124. The leg side 124 comprises fourindented female connectors 16, as shown in FIG. 29. The indented femaleconnectors 16 are recessed in the leg side 124 of the seat 121.Additionally, the upper or first walls 20 formed in the leg side 124 ofthe seat 121 that the indented female connectors 16 extend into areangled or sloped with respect to the leg side 124 of the seat 121, suchthat when legs 130 are joined to the female connectors 16 the legs 130extend in a direction away from the seat 121. This allows the legs 130to flare outwardly as shown in FIG. 28, providing for a more stablestool 120.

The legs 130 are each provided with a male connector 30, as shown inFIG. 30, extending from one end thereof. The male connector 30 on eachleg 130 is fitted into and joined to one of the indented femaleconnectors 16. The stool 120 is formed when the four legs 130 have eachbeen forced into the indented female connectors 16. One of theadvantages of the stool 120 is that no tools, part, pieces, equipment,or loose fasteners were required to assemble the stool 120. Anotheradvantage of the stool 120 is that the stool 120 can be repeatedlymanually assembled and disassembled. Another advantage of the stool 120is that once the male connector 30 on the 130 is fitted into theindented female connector 16, there is little play or room for movementbetween the two, and a result the stool 120 can support the weight of anadult person without collapsing. In another embodiment, the stool 12 maycomprise three legs 120 that spaced at substantially equal distancesfrom one another, as shown in FIG. 31. FIG. 31 shows a bottom plan viewof a stool seat that has three indented female connectors 16 for joiningto there legs 130.

Thus, a virtually limitless number of structures 46 can be made thatmake use of the indented female connector 16 and male connector 30.Advantageously, these structures can be manually assembled anddisassembled in a short amount of time with the use of tools or othercomponents. More advantages are that these structures 46 are lightweightand can be mass produced at low production costs. Also, these structures46 are strong and stable, because there is little play or room formovement between the male connector 30 and indented female connector 16when they are joined together.

There is also a method of making a structure using first and secondhollow molded objects, 10, 11, respectively. The method comprisesproviding the first hollow object 10 with an indented female blow-moldedconnector comprising 16 having at least one rib 28. Providing the secondhollow molded unit with a male connector 30 having first and secondcontact walls 33 a, 33 b, respectively, that meet with a curved wall 35at first and second contact edges 38 a, 38 b, respectively. The methodincludes moving the male connector 30 into the indented female connector16 until the first and second contact edges 38 a, 38 b, respectivelymove past the at least one rib 28, thus joining the first and secondhollow molded objects, 10, 11, respectively.

While the indented female blow-molded connector and male connector havebeen described in connection with certain embodiments, it is notintended to limit the scope of the indented female blow-molded connectorand male connector to the particular forms set forth, but, on thecontrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of theindented female blow-molded connector and male connector as defined bythe appended claims.

1. An indented female blow-molded connector comprising: a hollow moldedobject having an upper wall and a plurality of second wallsinterconnected to form a cavity, the upper wall and second walls eachhave having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interiorsurface is separated from the exterior surface by a thickness of therespective upper wall or second wall, the interior surfaces define thecavity in the hollow molded object, the cavity to contains a fluid, aportion of the exterior surface of the upper wall surrounds an openinghaving a length; inside walls extending substantially perpendicular tothe portion of the exterior surface and defining the opening; at leastone rib extending from one of the inside walls, the at least one ribfacing inwardly and that at least one rib extends completely across thelength of the opening and a flex section extends between the exteriorsurface of the upper wall at the edge of the opening and the at leastone rib and the flex section has a dimension, the dimension is thelength between the exterior surface at the edge of the opening and theat least one rib; a bottom joined to the inside walls; and thedimension, which is the length between the exterior surface at the edgeof the opening and the at least one rib, is greater than the thicknessof the upper wall for allowing a male mold component to be removed fromthe hollow molded object without damaging the at least one rib.
 2. Theincented female blow-molded connector of claim 1, wherein the hollowmolded object is one piece.
 3. The indented female blow-molded connectorof claim 1, wherein the at least one rib is formed from a pair of wallsconverging at an approximately forty-five degree angle relative to theone of the inside walls.
 4. The indented female blow-molded connector ofclaim 1, wherein the opening is rectangular.
 5. A hollow objectcomprising: an upper wall and a plurality of second walls interconnectedto form a cavity, the upper wall and second walls each have having anexterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface isseparated from the exterior surface by a thickness of the respectiveupper wall or second wall, the interior surfaces define the cavity inthe hollow molded object, the cavity to contains a fluid, a portion ofthe exterior surface of the upper wall surrounding shaped an opening;opposed pairs of inside walls joined with the upper wall at the openingand each pair of inside walls extending substantially perpendicular tothe upper wall; ribs formed in one of the pairs of inside walls in aface to face relationship and the ribs extend along a length of theopening and a flex section extends from the exterior surface of theupper wall at the edge of the opening to the ribs and the flex sectionhas a dimension, the dimension is the length between the exteriorsurface at the edge of the opening and the at least one rib; wherein thedimension, which is the length between the exterior surface at the edgeof the opening and the at least one rib, is greater than the thicknessof the upper wall for allowing a male mold component to be removed fromthe hollow object without damaging the at least one rib; and wherein thehollow object is one piece.
 6. The hollow object of claim 5, wherein theopening is rectangular.
 7. An indented female blow-molded connectorcomprising: a hollow object comprising a thermoplastic material havingan upper wall having an exterior surface, an interior surface separatedfrom the exterior surface by a thickness of the upper wall, and aplurality of second walls interconnected to the upper wall to form acavity, each second wall has an exterior surface, an interior surfaceseparated from the exterior surface by a thickness of the respectivesecond wall, and the interior surfaces of the second walls define thecavity in the hollow object, the cavity to contains a fluid, and theupper wall has a circular shaped opening at portions of the exteriorsurface; the hollow object further having an inside wall joined with theupper wall that defines the circular shaped opening and an annular ribextends from the inside wall; a flex section extends along the insidewall between the annular rib and the exterior surface of the upper wallat the edge of the opening and the flex section has a dimension, thedimension is the length between the exterior surface at the edge of theopening and the annular rib; and wherein the dimension, which is thelength between the exterior surface at the edge of the opening and theannular rib, is greater than the thickness of the upper wall to allow amale mold component to be removed from the hollow object withoutdamaging the annular rib.
 8. An indented female blow-molded connector,comprising: a hollow object having an upper wall and a plurality ofsecond walls to form a cavity, the upper wall having an exterior surfaceand an interior surface separated from the exterior surface by athickness of the upper wall, each second wall having an exterior surfaceand an interior surface separated from the exterior surface by athickness of the second wall, the interior surfaces of the second wallsdefine the cavity in the hollow object, the cavity, to contains a fluid,and the exterior surface of the upper wall surrounding an opening havingopposed major lengths; opposed major length inside walls joined to theupper wall at the opening and opposed minor length inside walls joinedto the upper wall at the opening and wherein the opposed major lengthinside walls are separated by the opposed minor length inside walls;opposed ribs formed in the opposed major length inside walls and each oftile opposed ribs extends from one of the opposed minor length insidewalls to the other of the opposed minor length inside walls; a flexsection extends between the exterior surface of the upper wall at theedge of the opening and the opposed ribs and the flex section has adimension, the dimension is the length between the exterior surface atthe edge of the opening and the opposed ribs; a section joined to theopposed major length inside walls and joined to the opposed minor lengthinside walls and the section disposed at a bottom of the indented femaleblow-molded connector; wherein the dimension, which is the lengthbetween the exterior surface at the edge of the opening and the opposedribs, is greater than the thickness of the upper wall the opposed ribsof the hollow object are undamaged upon removal of the male moldcomponent from the hollow object, and wherein the hollow object is onepiece and a thermoplastic material.
 9. The indented female blow-moldedconnector of claim 8, wherein the opening is rectangular.